Health Department warns of canned Pedigree dog food recall

The Hawaii Department of Health is alerting residents of a national recall of two lots of Pedigree canned dog food.

Mars Petcare US Inc. of Tennessee has recalled two lots of its Pedigree Can High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor wet dog food due to the potential presence of metal and plastic pieces.

The recall applies only to 13.2-ounce cans of High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor for dogs with lot codes 613C3KKCFC and 613C1KKCFC. The lot code is printed on the bottom of the can.

The company told the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that these two lots did not meet its stringent safety and quality standards, and had identified them for destruction prior to distribution.

Mars later discovered the products had been “fraudulently diverted” and sold in the U.S. marketplace by a third-party vendor. Mars is working with authorities to determine how they entered the marketplace.

No sales or distribution information is available to determine if the recalled products were sold in Hawaii.

DOH recommends that customers check all Pedigree High Protein cans and their labels to ensure they do not have the recalled product. So far, the company has received no reports of pet illness or injury.

Consuming hard or sharp foreign objects in food may cause injuries to dogs — from choking to lacerations or blockages in the gastrointestinal tract. Consumers who fed the recalled product to their dog should contact their veterinarian.

Mars says customers with questions can contact Pedigree Consumer Care to initiate a replacement at 1-800-525-5273 or visit pedigree.com/update.